One Long-Established School in Taiwan Officially Closes! No New Students for Two Consecutive Years — After 64 Years, Campus Transformed into Inclusive Employment Hub

Impacted by declining birthrates and its remote geographical location, Wurong Elementary School in Dahu Township, Miaoli County, faced the challenge of not being able to recruit any new students for two consecutive years. After consultations between school authorities and parents, enrolled students were transferred to Nanhu Elementary School, and the school officially ceased operations in September 2023. Established in 1959 (Minguo Year 48), Wurong Elementary had served the community for 64 years. With the departure of its final students, the once-bustling campus fell into disuse.

To breathe new life into the decommissioned school, the Miaoli County Government actively served as a resource-matching platform, successfully introducing external enterprises and nonprofit partners to transform the former educational site into a new employment support hub for people with disabilities.

Following spatial re-planning and resource transformation, the former Wurong Elementary School campus held the official unveiling ceremony for the 'A-Chang Co-Wellness Cluster' on April 5. This collaborative project integrates the 'A-Chang Cleaning Sheltered Workshop' with related businesses, converting the previously idle campus facilities into a physical base dedicated to vocational training and services for people with disabilities—demonstrating a pioneering model that combines school closure revitalization with social welfare initiatives.

The inauguration event emphasized the core concept of 'Green Factory, Co-Wellness Cluster,' highlighting the deep integration of circular resources and local space utilization. Throughout the renovation process, sustainability was prioritized, with extensive use of eco-friendly recycled paper materials in design and interior fittings.

From exhibited furniture such as tables, chairs, and bookshelves to visual displays and installation art, all elements were crafted from recycled paper materials. This initiative not only revitalized the idle campus space in Dahu Township but also transformed the vacant school buildings into environmentally conscious and aesthetically pleasing spaces.

Regarding the operational models and future development of sheltered workshops at the local level, Miaoli County Deputy Magistrate Lai Xiang-Ling offered in-depth insights during the event. She pointed out that sheltered workshops have long served as critical employment support platforms for people with disabilities, yet they often face multiple operational challenges.

Deputy Magistrate Lai further explained that traditional sheltered workshops are typically confined to isolated environments, making it difficult for trainees to transition into mainstream employment even after acquiring job skills. Addressing this issue, she emphasized: 'Advancing sheltered employment requires joint efforts from government, businesses, and civil society.' Only through coordinated collaboration can broader employment pathways be opened for individuals with disabilities.

To break away from the historically limited job roles within sheltered workshops, the Miaoli County Government stated it will continue expanding partnership networks, connecting enterprises and public welfare resources to create more diverse opportunities for people with disabilities. In the future, the 'A-Chang Co-Wellness Cluster' will expand beyond traditional cleaning services and integrate into the region's tourism corridor.

The sheltered workshop plans to establish practical housekeeping collaborations with local hot spring resorts, enabling individuals with disabilities to enter the hospitality and tourism service sector. The county government aims to provide hands-on training in varied workplace settings, helping people with disabilities not only secure jobs but also develop expertise, build confidence, and grow professionally across specialized environments.